Stevia Sugar Free Diet

Stevia is a sweet-tasting plant native to South America usually sold either as whole leaf or crushed leaf. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration allows Stevia to be sold in the U.S. as a dietary supplement, but it is not found in commercial sugar-free or low-carbohydrate foods or drinks. The carbohydrate-free, no-sugar additive is used as a sweetener or flavoring agent that contributes no calories to your diet.

Stevia as a Dietary Supplement

• Stevia is a natural alternative for reducing daily calorie intake and the desire for sweets, chocolates and fats. Replacing sugar in your diet with Stevia causes immediate weight loss, so long as high-calorie meals are avoided, along with regular sugar. It is also three hundred times sweeter than granulated sugar and can be added to baked goods, processed foods and beverages.

  When Stevia is used in place of sugar in drinks like coffee and tea, and on foods like cereals and fruit, it will help decrease your overall carbohydrate intake. The sweetening property of Stevia is also ideal for those suffering from problems related to diabetes, high blood pressure and excessive body weight.

  Research shows that Americans' consumption of sugar has increased by 30 percent over the past few decades. The average American adult eats nearly 200 pounds of sugar a year. Replacing sugar with Stevia as a dietary ingredient not only reduces your body's insulin levels, but can also lower your cholesterol and increase energy.

  For more sweetness, add more Stevia. Several factors can impact the amount, such as personal sweetness preference, and the flavor of foods. Sour foods like cranberries or lemons occasionally will need more sweetness. Stevia can also be blended with honey.

  Stevia looks similar to powdered sugar and has a fairly similar taste when small amounts are used. It tastes slightly bitter if placed directly in the mouth. Most Stevia products are sold in grocery stores in their sweetener sections and as an extract in the vitamin section of natural foods stores. Stevia is also easy to grow. You can purchase Stevia seeds or plants at local farmer's markets.

  No harmful side effects have been found to be associated with the use of Stevia.